
A highly productive legislative session culminated with an impressive list of accomplishments. Lawmakers demonstrated their commitment by enacting several crucial priorities this year, spanning areas such as public safety, election integrity, and support for our brave veterans and active-duty military personnel. Upon adjournment, Rep. Perkins expressed his unwavering support for many of these initiatives. “Throughout this session, my focus has been unwavering – safeguarding life, ensuring the integrity of our elections, and enhancing public safety across our communities. With the successful passage of several bills that accomplish these critical goals, I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together. I am looking forward to the interim, during which I will continue to build a broad coalition to expand upon the tremendous successes we have realized this year.”
Protecting Property Owner and Preventing Government Overreach
SB 895 seeks to push back against federal lockdown policies, clarify landlord-tenant proceedings, and protect property rights, receiving significant support in the House. The bill prohibits local eviction moratoriums unless authorized by state law, ensuring statewide consistency for property owners and tenants. It mandates the filing of property transfers with outstanding judgments in circuit court within 30 days, ensuring proper recording and resolution of debt obligations. Additionally, the bill amends trespassing laws to include unauthorized entry and refusal to vacate vacant properties, increasing penalties and establishing a process for swift removal of trespassers. This legislation will promote fairness and transparency in landlord-tenant proceedings and reaffirm Missouri’s commitment to protecting individual liberties and state sovereignty against federal overreach.
Promoting Public Safety
SB 754 is a comprehensive legislative initiative aimed at enhancing public safety across Missouri. The bill addresses key areas such as juvenile justice, firearm safety, drug trafficking, and protection for law enforcement animals. It includes significant updates to state laws, impacting juvenile court jurisdiction, parole eligibility, traffic violations, sentencing guidelines, and introducing new laws for cyber-crimes, firearms offenses, and drug offenses. Notable provisions include Valentine’s Law, which penalizes aggravated fleeing from police stops; Maxx’s Law, which increases penalties for harming law enforcement animals; Blair’s Law, targeting reckless firearm discharge within cities; and stringent measures against drug trafficking.
Election Integrity
SJR 78 is a proposed constitutional amendment that, if approved by voters, modifies election provisions in Missouri. It stipulates that only U.S. citizens over 18 residing in Missouri and their respective political subdivisions can vote. All elections must use paper ballots or legally prescribed mechanical methods, and voters are allowed only one vote per issue or office, prohibiting ranked-choice voting except in certain pre-existing nonpartisan municipal elections. The candidate with the most votes in a party primary will be the sole candidate for that party in the general election. This rule also excludes certain nonpartisan municipal elections with pre-existing ordinances as of November 5, 2024.
Working on your behalf,
Representative Chad Perkins
Proudly Serving the 40th House District
Pike and Lincoln Counties
Legislative Assistant
Scott Bell